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Cards, personal loans and other unsecured debt

Credit card & unsecured debt

See how long your cards take to pay off, what the minimum payment really costs, and how nonprofit counseling and settlement compare.

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How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt: Every Way Out, Honestly
How to get out of credit card debt: every path from a payoff plan you run yourself to counseling, loans, settlement and bankruptcy, with what each costs.
13 min read
Are There Grants to Pay Off Credit Card Debt?
No government grant pays off personal credit card debt, and offers of free grant money are scams. Here's what can free up money, and the red flags to watch for.
7 min read
Credit Card Hardship Program: How to Ask, What to Expect
A credit card hardship program is your card company's own plan to pause or lower payments. How to ask, what to get in writing and what it can cost you.
8 min read
Credit Card Interest: How It Works and How It's Charged
Credit card interest is often charged daily: your APR divided by 360 or 365, times each day's balance. How grace periods, cash advances and payments change it.
7 min read
Credit Utilization: What It Is and How to Lower It
Credit utilization is your card balances divided by your credit limits. How to work it out per card and overall, what the CFPB says, and how to bring it down.
9 min read
Debt Avalanche vs. Snowball: Which Pays Off Debt Faster?
Avalanche pays the highest rate first and can save you money. Snowball clears the smallest balance first. See both run on the same debts, in dollars.
8 min read
Debt Consolidation vs Debt Settlement: Cost, Credit, Risk
Debt consolidation vs debt settlement: one repays all you owe with a new loan, the other pays less but usually means falling behind first. How they compare.
8 min read
Debt Management Plan: How It Works, Costs and Catches
A debt management plan is one monthly payment to a nonprofit credit counselor, who pays your cards, often at lower rates. How it works, fees and the catches.
10 min read
Debt Settlement Pros and Cons: Costs, Credit and Taxes
Debt settlement can close large card debt for less than you owe, but it hurts credit, adds fees and can bring taxes and lawsuits. Here is what to weigh.
9 min read
Form 1099-C: What Canceled Debt Means for Your Taxes
A 1099-C reports debt a lender canceled, and the IRS generally counts that as income. How the form works, what to check, and how insolvency can reduce it.
10 min read
How to Negotiate Credit Card Debt: Hardship to Settlement
How to negotiate credit card debt yourself: ask for a hardship plan first, what a settlement costs, and why to get the deal in writing before you pay.
8 min read
How to Pay Off $10,000 in Credit Card Debt: The Real Math
How to pay off $10,000 in credit card debt: what each monthly payment costs at 22% APR, avalanche vs snowball, and what to do if you can't cover it.
12 min read
What Happens If You Stop Paying Credit Cards?
What happens if you stop paying credit cards, step by step: late fees, a penalty rate, credit damage, charge-off, collectors and a possible lawsuit.
10 min read
What Happens to Credit Card Debt When You Die?
Credit card debt doesn't pass to your family. The estate pays it, and if the estate can't, it usually goes unpaid. Here are the exceptions and your rights.
10 min read
What Is a Charge-Off? What It Means and What Happens Next
A charge-off is when a lender writes an unpaid card off as a loss, usually by 180 days late. You still owe it, and it can stay on your credit report 7 years.
10 min read
What Is Debt Relief? Every Option, Its Cost and Its Risks
Debt relief means changing what you owe or how you repay it, from a hardship plan to settlement or bankruptcy. See how each works and what it costs you.
10 min read

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